With less than 2 weeks left at E.S.T I've been asked to write a paragraph summarizing my experience. Words like "awesome" and "amazing" are among the many adjectives that seem too inadequate for this task. I've been calling E.S.T home for the past two months and not once since I stepped off the bus in Dharamsala have I doubted my decision to come here. Even faced with the major possibility of culture shock that a country like India might present to some foreigners, it didn't take very long to feel completely at ease amongst the students who also consider E.S.T home. And while there were adjustments to be made, i.e. washing in a spring, doing laundry by hand (I'm embarrassed to admit that I had to ask for help with this the first time), being ½ hour by Indian bus ride away from the closest town, the simplicity of it all made missing my Western ways difficult. Since the very beginning, from the moment I was given my own mug by the manager Choephel, I felt like part of the family. All I can say to anyone reading this is that your experience is shaped by the students. They motivate you to not only teach the best you can but be open to learning yourself. If I have to warn you about anything it's the "Tibetan humour"…you'll know exactly what I'm talking about when it comes your way. When I leave, I'll be saying a very difficult good bye to people that weren't just my students but my friends and family.

By Theresa Collins,